I was stunned at a recent All-Japan demonstration. Doshu's son, Mitsuteru, due to become the 4th Aikido Doshu, made his debut at the demonstration. Where? As a member of the military demonstration, given by the self-defence forces. To me, sitting in the audience, it was hugely symbolic--in a very negative sense, but I suspect that I was the only person at the demonstration to see this.

Hello Professor,

I didn't notice this, but as you said it is a long demonstration.

I only saw Mitsuteru sensei in the hombu instructor demos and as uke for his father. He only appears in the programme in section 19 under "Hombu Shidoin" on page 8 (Page 4 of the PDF). Are you saying you saw him make another unofficial appearance in the Defence Agency Rengokai embu? The video has already appeared on Youtube but the quality isn't sufficient for me to make him out.